The Tipperary-based company is currently building a brand new farm in the heart of Dublin city.

However, the farm buildings in question will house more than the normal run-of-the- mill farm animals because the company's latest project is based in Dublin Zoo, and O'Dwyer's most recent clients include several elephants. The company has just completed a large elephant compound, including accommodation, swimming pool and lifting equipment for their batch of the largest land mammal in the world.

The company is currently working on a major upgrade of the zoo's City Farm, which involves the construction of a miniature farmyard.

The farm includes a traditional round-roofed hay/ storage shed, a livestock shed for cows, a pig house and a miniature milking parlour.

The milking parlour is designed to accommodate one cow that can be milked by hand or by machine.

Agricultural director John Hanly said each building would be a faithful reproduction of a full-size farm building and the farm was designed to give urbanites a taste of farm life.

It is understood that the company is currently tendering for the next zoo project -- a gorilla house.

Also Read

"It's a small diversification from the norm, but it's all work for us," said Mr Hanly.